Broadway bulldog fetches Palm Dog at Cannes Film Festival

Nellie, a Broadway showpup, collared the coveted Palm Dog award on Friday at the Cannes Film Festival for her movie debut in “Paterson.”

It was a cross-gender part for the bulldog known for starring on stage in “Legally Blonde.”

“Nellie played a boy named Marvin,” says trainer and owner Bill Berloni. In the Jim Jarmusch movie shot in Yonkers, Marvin hates Paterson, a New Jersey bus driver played by Adam Driver, but loves his wife, portrayed by Golshifteh Farahani.

“It’s a love triangle,” says Berloni, a Tony-honored animal expert. “Marvin growls all the time at Paterson, who has to walk him.”

"Paterson" director Jim Jarmusch holds the Palm Dog won by Nellie
"Paterson" director Jim Jarmusch holds the Palm Dog won by Nellie (ROB AFT)
The Palm Dog’s been honored standout pooch performances since 2001. The kennel of winners includes Uggie from “The Artist.” To fetch the coveted bejeweled collar, Nellie had to beat out dalmatians from “In Bed With Victoria,” corgis from “The BFG” and a three-legged mutt in “I, Daniel.”

Sadly the prize was given posthumously to Nellie. The charismatic canine died in March at age 8. Her animal magnetism came as no surprise to Berloni, who lives with dozens of dogs at his Connecticut farm.